Dyslexia & Diet

I've watched a lot of the nutrition documentaries out there...

Crazy Sexy Cancer
Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead
Food Inc
Food Matters
Forks Over Knives
Hungry for Change
Vegucated


My main purpose was to find some nutritional solutions to the environmental allergies my son experiences.  Along the way, I discovered the power of vitamins.  I have seen my son who is prone to allergens reduce the symptoms with a vitamin load.

Recently, I've been pondering how diet and dyslexia might be connected.  Not as a cure, but how healthy nutrition can boost brain function to alleviate any barriers that can be removed.

Any articles, research, or tips you can share?

Summer Strategies

I flipped the calendar to April and realized we only have roughly 2 months of fourth grade left.  And as always, it's mixed emotions.  I feel like we are close to accomplishing another long school year and I feel nervous about summer.  Summer break presents a great break from the rigor of the school year, but it always seems to be a con for all of the momentum we've finally got going.

Last summer, we opted to not enroll my daughter in summer school despite several recommendations to do so.  It was a far commute, long hours, and not necessarily going to address the academic areas where she needs extra work.  I bought curriculum and we had a loosely structured academic time each day.  My older kids got in on the task, too, and helped when they could.  It went well, but it seemed to be more of a maintenance strategy, not the strategy we needed to make progress.

This summer, I think we need to find something more substantial to use the nine weeks as a time to catch up on missing concepts and be more prepared for fifth grade.

Any suggestions?

Supplemental curriculum?
Private tutor?
Program at a learning institution?
Summer school?
Online programs?

IEP Meeting

The IEP Invite & Agenda

Last week, we had our IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting for our daughter with her teacher, case manager, tutor, speech therapist, principal, her father and I.  And it was long. And good. And exhausting.

There was so much admin to cover first (long part), then we moved on to documented progress (the surprisingly good).  But we landed on goals for the future and all the work needing to be done to accomplish those...  And that was the exhausting part for me as I help her navigate through it all and especially for her, as she does the hard work of learning.

As with most of her meetings, there's good and there's bad.  I must force myself to focus on the good and let that fuel me for the future.  (By the way, I can not think too far into the future without being overwhelmed when it comes to her education)

Here's the thing: I'm not concerned about her living life as an adult...  she has awesome relationship skills, can problem solve, and knows her strengths along with her limits. She'll do just fine. But I am very concerned how we make it through the next 9 years of report cards, homework, standardized testing, studying, and IEPs.  I have to adopt the "do the next thing" strategy and take it all one week at a time.  Or I can get really overwhelmed and lose my drive to help her succeed. (the last thing she needs from anyone!)   I have to remind myself we are succeeding and let those reminders propel me to do the next thing... and all the extra things.

Anyone feel exhausted just thinking about all that needs to be done?  And the future?